Doxa Church’s Support During the Loss of a Loved One
Not everyone deals with the initial loss of a loved one the same way. Some people prefer to grieve in solitude, whereas others welcome visitors bearing condolences and offering the comfort of their presence.
This creates varied expectations, which are often shaped by different church approaches to bereavement care. To avoid adding to one’s grief through differing expectations, we aim to clearly communicate what Doxa Church (“Doxa”) provides to members and active attenders for comfort and support.
The New Testament offers limited explicit guidance on how a church should care for those who have lost a loved one. However, it calls us to grieve with them (Romans 12:15, ESV: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep”). This may involve lifting them up in prayer, while at other times it may include meeting immediate physical needs, such as food for the family. For some, simply being present in the moment is all that is needed, whereas for others, support includes sharing the burden of planning a memorial service.
Doxa Church’s Compassionate Care for the Family
Once Doxa Church is notified of the loss of an immediate family member, a pastor will reach out to offer the following support:
- Prayer: Providing prayer support over the phone or in person (e.g., at home or in the hospital).
- Visit: Visiting the family to provide emotional and spiritual care.
- Notification (at the family’s discretion): Informing the family’s Small Group, Prayer Team, and Deacon Team to provide support (e.g., to provide meals for the first few days).
Congregational Notification, Memorial Services and Formal Grief Care
- Congregational Notification: Typically shared through Small Groups and the Doxa Weekly newsletter, at the family’s discretion, rather than a Sunday service announcement, though we may choose to do so when appropriate.
- Memorial Service: Assisting with planning, providing Doxa’s facilities, offering a pastor to officiate a Gospel-centered service, utilizing available church resources (e.g., music and audio), and providing light refreshments for attendees.
- Formal Grief Care: Providing grief counseling and grief care classes through the Soul Care Ministry.
Members and active attenders are encouraged to contact the church office at (916) 966-2243 or a pastor to discuss their support preferences.